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Phragmites australis as a model organism for studying plant invasions

  • Phragmites Invasion
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Abstract

The cosmopolitan reed grass Phragmites australis (Poaceae) is an intensively studied species globally with a substantial focus in the last two decades on its invasive populations. Here we argue that P. australis meets the criteria to serve as a model organism for studying plant invasions. First, as a dominant species in globally important wetland habitats, it has generated significant pre-existing research, demonstrating a high potential for funding. Second, this plant is easy to grow and use in experiments. Third, it grows abundantly in a wide range of ecological systems and plant communities, allowing a broad range of research questions to be addressed. We formalize the designation of P. australis as a model organism for plant invasions in order to encourage and standardize collaborative research on multiple spatial scales that will help to integrate studies on the ecology and evolution of P. australis invasive populations, their response to global environmental change, and implications for biological security. Such an integrative framework can serve as guidance for studying invasive plant species at the population level and global spatial scale.

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Acknowledgments

LAM and JTC were supported by NSF research Grant 1049914 and 1050084. PP and LAM were supported by the Czech Science Foundation (Project No. 14-15414S), PP also by long-term research development project RVO 67985939 (The Czech Academy of Sciences) and Praemium Academiae award from The Czech Academy of Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA

    Laura A. Meyerson

  2. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    James T. Cronin

  3. Institute of Botany, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Zámek 1, 252 43, Průhonice, Czech Republic

    Petr Pyšek

  4. Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic

    Petr Pyšek

  5. Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    Petr Pyšek

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  1. Laura A. Meyerson
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  2. James T. Cronin
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Correspondence to Laura A. Meyerson.

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Guest editors: Laura A. Meyerson and Kristin Saltonstall/Phragmites invasion.

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Meyerson, L.A., Cronin, J.T. & Pyšek, P. Phragmites australis as a model organism for studying plant invasions. Biol Invasions 18, 2421–2431 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-016-1132-3

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